A Dutch national arrested in connection with the murder of a young British woman in India has reportedly confessed to stabbing her to death while high on drugs, British media reported on Sunday.

The man, named as Richard de Wit, had reportedly fled the scene in a small boat, leaving his possessions inside the cabin of the houseboat where he was staying.

He was arrested some 60 km from the murder scene and reportedly confessed to the killing.

Deputy general inspector Ahafadul Mujtaba told Sky News: ‘He has told us he killed the girl – we don’t know why. He also says he had taken drugs, cannabis.’

The body of Sarah Groves, 24, was found in a pool of blood inside her cabin on a houseboat on Lake Dal, in the town of Srinagar in Kashmir in the early hours of Saturday.